Picking them off one at a time

Onetime Phillies wunderkind pitcher Art Mahaffey punctuates his major league debut 64 years ago today in a most remarkable way during the eighth inning of Philadelphia’s 6-3 loss at St. Louis.

With a Saturday afternoon crowd of 8,832 looking on, Mahaffey gives up a single to Bill White, the first batter he faces after a 1-2-3 seventh inning – and promptly picks off White at first base.

Mahaffey then gives up a single to Curt Flood, and picks him off, as well.

He then retires the next batter, Hal Smith, on a more conventional play, like a flyout to left fielder Johnny Callison.

Four days later, Mahaffey makes his first home start at Connie Mack Stadium against San Francisco and retires the side 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning before walking Jim Marshall to open the second.

No worries. Mahaffey picks him off, too, in a game where the Phillies beat the Giants 6-5 before a Wednesday night crowd of 11,169 in North Philly.